[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 28 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[Pages 1145-1146]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters in Kennebunkport, Maine

July 6, 2002

President's Birthday

    The President. Good morning, everybody.
    Q. Happy birthday.
    The President. That's the way we like it, up and early.
    Q. We do too. [Laughter]
    The President. Up and at 'em. Feeling a little older, if you know 
what I mean.
    David [David Gregory, NBC News], how are you, lad?

President's Upcoming Vacation

    Q. All right. Sir, now that you're a little older and wiser, are you 
rethinking avoiding spending all of August here?
    The President. No, I think--I think you'll like Crawford.
    Former President Bush. It's warmer there.
    Q. Do you have any words of wisdom for him on the vacation schedule?
    Former President Bush. I've got words of wisdom for Eric. He ought 
to get out of there.
    The President. Get out of there, Eric. [Laughter]

[At this point, the President continued to prepare for his golf outing.]

President's Hat

    Q. What does your hat say?
    The President. El Jefe. That's French. [Laughter]
    Q. I was going to sing for you in another language.
    The President. Thank you, sir. That's an inside joke.

[The President continued to prepare for his golf outing.]

    Former President Bush. No laughing about the ladies' tee.

President's Birthday

    Q. Sir, what do you want for your birthday?
    The President. I don't know yet. I haven't thought about it. First 
of all, I'm glad--I'm glad my mother and wife remembered. [Laughter]

[The President prepared to tee off.]

    The President. Yes, Mr. President. Nice, gentle applause rippling 
throughout the gallery.
    See you in a couple hours--like 2.

[The round of golf proceeded.]

    The President. I apologize.
    Q. Yes, right.
    The President. Miserable shot.
    Q. You didn't have any idea where we were, either, did you?
    The President. It's clear I didn't have any idea where the ball was 
going----
    Q. Mr. President, it's up by the tree, sir.
    The President. Who kicked it under there? [Laughter]

[[Page 1146]]

    Q. David did. [Laughter]
    The President. I was just kidding about the French thing. [Laughter]

Note: The exchange began at 6:15 a.m. at the Cape Arundel Golf Course. 
In his remarks, the President referred to White House Director of 
Photography Eric Draper. A tape was not available for verification of 
the content of this exchange.